Course Description: Aquatic Science is an upper level, yearlong science course. Students study a variety of topics that include: components of an aquatic ecosystem; relationships among aquatic habitats and ecosystems; roles of cycles within an aquatic environment; adaptations of organisms; changes within aquatic environments; geological phenomena and fluid dynamics effects; and origin and use of water in a watershed.Course Goals: Students will gain an overall understanding of aquatic ecosystems including saltwater and freshwater ecosystems and the flora and fauna found in them. They will also learn about the geological formations that form the Earth’s oceans & rivers, and the effect these bodies of water have on weather. Students will also acquire the necessary skills, responsibilities and knowledge to be good stewards of freshwater and marine environments.

6 weeks at a glance: Aquatic Science Outline for the Year 2017-2018

Unit 1: Lab Safety and Scientific Thinking

1st 6 weeks

2nd 6 weeks

3rd 6 weeks

4th 6 weeks

5th 6 weeks

6th 6 weeks

Dissections will be included

1.Lab Safety

2.Scientific Method

Unit 2: Careers and History of Aquatic Science

1.Careers of Aquatic Science

2.History of Aquatic Science

Unit 3: Introduction to Water

3.Intro to Aqua Sci

4.The Water Cycle

5.Properties of Water

6.Water Resources

7.Water Distribution

Unit 4: Water Chemistry

1.pH

2.Water Hardness

3.Dissolved Gasses

4.Plant Nutrients

5.Turbidity

6.Stream Flow

7.Aquariums in the classroom

Unit 5: Water Quality (Pollution)

1.Aquatic Ecosystems

2.Watersheds

3.Impact of Humans

4.Laws and Policies

Unit 6: Water Quantity and Conservation

1.Aquatic Ecosystems

2.Groundwater Systems

3.Streams and Rivers

4.Lakes and Ponds

5.Wetlands

6.Bays and Estuaries

Unit 7: Winds and Currents

1.Weather

2.Climate

3.Waves

4.Tides

Unit 8: Water Physics

1.Pressure

2.Buoyancy

3.Light

4.Sound

Unit 9: Ocean Geology

1.Ocean Floor

2.Plate Tectonics

3.Volcanoes

4.Comparison of Oceans

Unit 10: Freshwater Ecoystems and Aquatic Ecology

1.Aquatic Environments

2.Interrelationships and Interdependence

3.Flow of Energy

Unit 11: Freshwater and Coastal Wetlands

1.Aquatic Life

2.Coast, Islands, and Beaches

3.Sandy Beach Ecosystem and Organisms

4.Shallow Seas Plants and Organisms

Unit 12: Open Oceans and Organisms

1.Pelagic Fishes

2.Sharks

3.Aquatic Mammals

4.Polar Oceans

Note: Subject to change and revisions as teacher sees fit based on student population and their needs.